Cashier&#39;s protector



109. SAN-.5, BANK IHUILUIIUN ICES. AND RELATED DEV l Oct. 21 1924.1,512,791

G. A. MUSSELMAN CASHIERS PROTECTOR J 1 Filed May 25, 1925 2 Sheets-SheetI AND RELATED DEVICES.

Oct. 21 1924,

, 1,512,791 G. A. MUSSELMAN CASHIER'S PROTECTOR Filed y 25. 1923 2Sheets-Sheet z IUU. bAl'tb, DANA rnulncuuw AND RELATED DEVICES.

Patented Oct. 21, 1924.

UNITED STATES GEORGE A. MUSSELIVIAN, OF MANSFIELD, OHIO.

CASHIERS PROTECTOR.

Appilieation filed May 25, 1923. Serial No. 641,409.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. MUSSEL- MAN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Mansfield, in the county of Richland and State ofOhio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in CashiersProtectors, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to a protector or shield for cashiers andtellers in banks and the like, which is preferably bulletproof and whichis normally out of the way and out of sight. The main object of theinvention is to install a shield of this character in the partition ofthe cashiers counter and to furnish a conveniently positioned device forinstantly closing the cashiers window, and which can be operated by thefoot. It is evident that if a burglar enters the bank and threatens thecashier with a gun, commanding him to throw up his hands, he would behelpless unless some easily operated device was furnished for pressing atreadle in order to close the window by the shield.

Known appliances for such protection generally consist of up and downsliding curtains or shields, which, however, seldom operate quicklyenough to be very effective. The subject matter of the present inventionembraces shields which are hinged on the inside of the cashiers windowand close by gravity as well as spring action.

In the accompanying drawings, one embodiment of the invention isillustrated; and

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a bank cashiers or tellers windowand counter with the shield installed;

Figure 2 is a vertical section of Figure 1 with the shield open; and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary horizontal section along line 3-3 of Figure 2.

In the drawings, reference numeral 10 represents the counter in a bankand numeral 11 represents a partition having uprights 12 and a cashierswindow 13, which is preferably provided with bars 14 in the usualmanner. Reference numeral 15 represents plate glass installed in thepartition on both sides of the cashiers window.

On a horizontally running shaft 16 mounted in suitable bearings 17 inthe partition 11, is rigidly secured a main shield 18, preferably ofbullet-proof plate. As the shaft 16 is carried on the inner side of thepartition, the shield will be slightly spaced from the same when closed.For this reason, the ends of the shield may be flanged as at 19 andthese flanges will then close up the opening between the ends of theshield and the frame posts. In order to stiffen the upper edge of themain shield 18, this edge may be rolled over itself as at 20 to form alongitudinal bead thereon.

Straps 21 have been shown for securing the shield to the shaft 16, andin the middle thereof or adjacent the cashiers window, a lever bracket22 is secured on the outer face of the shield. This bracket extendsbeyond the rolled edge or bead 20 with a short arm 23 for obtaining agood leverage with the axis of the shaft 16 as fulcrum. As the mainshield 18 extends across the entire partition 11 so as to cover not onlythe cashiers window 17 but also the plate glass insertions 15, its largesize makes it fairly heavy and it will accordingly easily close bygravity, the shaft 16 being situated near the upper edge of the shield.In order, however, to make the closing as quick as possible, the shieldis provided with a coil spring 24 wound around the shaft 16 and securedwith one end 25 in the shield while the other end 26 engages with one ofthe posts 12 of the partition. This spring tends to hold the shield inclosed position so that in opening the shield, not only its inherentweight but also the spring pressure has to be overcome.

A secondary shield 27, also extending the entire length of the partition11, but much narrower than the main shield 18, is similarly mounted on ashaft 28 carried in bearings 29 in the partition. This secondary shieldis placed slightly above the counter 10 so that currency and checks andthe like may be received or delivered through the window in the usualmanner below this secondary shield, while the cashier is able to see hiscustomer through the window between the main and secondary shields. Thewidth of the secondary shield is such that its lower edge will touch thecounter when closed, and its upper edge will meet the lower edge of themain shield 18. In this manner, a complete covering for the windows fromend to end and top to bottom is obtained when the two shields areclosed.

The secondary shield may also be provided with a bead 30 along its upperedge and its two ends flanged as at 31.

Directly below the lever bracket 22 on the upper or main shield 18, asimilar bracket 33 is secured on the secondary shield 27 and the twobrackets are connected by a link 34 hinged in both brackets. From thelever bracket 33 a rod 35 is depending and connected with an operatinglever 36 hinged in a bracket 37 secured on the partition near the floor.This lever 36 has a hooked end 38 adapted to engage with a dog 39provided with a treadle 40 and fulcrumed as at 41 in the base plate 42secured on the floor.

In Figures 1 and 2 the shields are shown in set position with theoperating lever 36 engaging the dog 39, in this manner holding down therod 35 and link 34 so that the shields accordingly are held open andextending inwardly from the partition 11 in parallel direction. In thisposition the main shield is practically concealed behind a dependingboard 43 at the upper end of the partition, while the secondary shield27 is visible from the outside, and being very narrow, may be considereda shelf for the convenience of the cashier.

If an attack is made against the cashier and he is compelled to throw uphis hands, he can easily operate the treadle 40 with his foot to releasethe lever 36, whereupon the two shields will fold down assisted by theaction of the spring 24. The parts will then take the position indicatedby dotted lines in Figure 2.

In order that the device may be operated from any point along thecounter, the treadle 40 carries a rod 45, extending in both directionsthereof to both ends of the counter and having its ends mounted in othertreadles 46, which are fulcrumed in bearings 47.

Having thus described the what is claimed as new is:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination with a framehaving uprights forming windows between them; of spaced shafts mountedin bearings on said uprights, a shield secured on each of said shafts, aspring associated with one of said invention,

shields and said posts adapted to close the shields over the windows,and means holding the shields in open position.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with a framehaving uprights forming windows between them; of spaced shafts mountedin bearings on said uprights, a shield secured on each of said shaftsand adapted to cover the windows, and means holding the shields in openposition; said means including arms on said shields, a latch, andpositive connection between one of said arms and said latch.

3. In a device of the character described, the combantion with a framehaving uprights forming windows between them; of spaced shafts mountedin hearings on said uprights, a shield secured on each of said shafts, aspring associated with one of said shields and said posts adapted toclose the shields over the windows, and means holding the shield in openposition; said means including an arm on each of said shields, anoperating lever pivoted on said frame, link connection between said armsand between said lever and one of said arms, and a catch mounted tooscillate adjacent said operat ing lever and adapted to engage therewithto hold the shields in open position.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination with a framehaving uprights forming windows between them; of spaced shafts mountedhorizontally in bearings on said uprights, a shield secured on each ofsaid shafts, a spring associated with one of said shields and said postsadapted to close the shields over the windows, and means holding theshields in open position; said means including arms on said shields,linked connection between said arms, an operating lever pivoted on saidframe below said shafts, a link connecting said operating lever with oneof said arms, a catch adapted to engage with said operating lfier tohold the shields in open position, said catch having a treadle, and abearing secured ad jacent said frame and in which said catch is pivoted.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signa- 100 ture.

GEORGE A. MUSSELMAN. [1 s]

